I asked myself that question and the answer was no. I was not and haven’t been happy in quite some time.

I had to honesty re reevaluate my life and came to the conclusion that I was holding on to way too much baggage and responsibilities that weren’t mine.
I have since began releasing them.

I have allowed people and circumstances to control my life for far too long.
I WAS an enabler. I MADE excuses for the people that I loved.
Excuses that enabled them to continue to inadvertently (or not) take me for granted. I stood by and allowed myself to be mistreated by those that I loved.

No longer will I suffer from self imposed laryngitis.
I have found my voice. I will reclaim my life.

I forgive those who have mistreated me. Most Importantly I FORGIVE MYSELF for Allowing it to happen.

Give yourself the permission to be the best you.

You can’t move forward to embrace your future if your arms are laden with the baggage of the past.

Let go of the weights that have held you back. The greatest of journeys start with that 1 first step.

You’d have to be living under a rock to not know who Elizabeth Lauten is.
In case you are, she’s the GOP Staffer who made the ill fated decision to ridicule the POTUS’ bored teenaged daughters for their behavior during the Presidential Turkey Pardoning Ceremony.
First Daughters’ Smirk & wicked side eye on deck!

Are we done yet? Ugh!

Now I personally found it refreshing that they were honest enough to show their boredom & displeasure. Why you ask?
They are NORMAL Teenagers! That’s why. My kids do it, so does the POTUS’ kids. But everyone didn’t share my opinion.

Elizabeth Lauten, Former ( Yes, I did say FORMER, as in not currently employed by, former) Communications Director for Tennessee Republican Rep. Steve Fincher and a former communications staffer for the Republican National Committee, wrote this scathing post on her personal Facebook page, that went viral :

Really Elizabeth? You of all people should have known better.

This post set off a fire storm of events on Social media, namely Twitter.
The Twitterazzi aka #BlackTwitter #BlackTwitterMafia launched one of the most vicious campaigns I can recall, since I joined the Militia in 2009.
Elizabeth Lauten became a trending topic #ElizabethLauten # FireElizabethLauten.

Demanding her head on a platter ( figuratively) or the next best thing, her resignation. Either would have sufficed.

Cyber bullying is at an all-time high. Especially when someone, namely an adult, unleashes a barrage of disparaging comments toward the POTUS’ Children.
Not just any nobody for that matter,
Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.).

Being in Communications myself, one must be versed in the rules of engagement, policies and protocols, especially in Social Media postings.

Well maybe sensitivity training, tact, couth or hell maybe even just plain ole’ common sense for that matter, should also be included in the list of things you ought to know.

For any reasonable adult to think that it is okay to cyber bully innocent children, because evidently she has some deep seeded contempt for their parents, is unconscionable.

This is a Public Relations nightmare! Where is Olivia Pope When you need her? Wait! She’s part of the #BlackTwitterMafia 👊👊👊👊👊

Sasha and Malia Obama are normal teenaged girls, with the exception of being the daughters of THE President of the United States of America.
So the fact that they were less than thrilled to sit through the Presidential pardoning of Turkeys and display their boredom and or displeasure was actually quite refreshing to me.

They’re kids. It’s what they do. There was nothing in their demeanor nor expression that warranted the rant of Elizabeth Lauten.
It’s too long and drawn out to repeat but I’ll attach the screenshot of her rant.

The #BlackTwitter #BlackTwitterMafia wasted no time in rising to the occasion to defend the first daughters.
Involving children in any politically motivated public tirade is a no no, as Elizabeth Lauten quickly discovered as her commentary set Twitter ablaze, she became a trending topic #ElizabethLauten, timelines and her Twitter mentions @DCGopGirl expressed the public’s displeasure.

I am yet to witness or hear of any allegations of improprieties on the part of Sasha or Malia Obama, so for Elizabeth Lauten to advise the to “dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar”, leaves me totally befuddled.

After the firestorm that ensued, Elizabeth Lauten issued this ( in my opinion, facetious ) statement: “I reacted to an article and quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager. After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents and re-reading my words online, I can see more clearly how hurtful my words were. Please know that these judgmental feelings truly have no (sic) pace in my heart. Furthermore, I’d like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience.”

For someone with the credentials that she possesses, this was definitely a low point in her career. Elizabeth needs to practice what she preaches. Think twice and act once. Think before you type! You, my dear Elizabeth Lauten, are an uncouth excuse for a human being.
Quit being a cyber bully. There are laws against that.